Page 44 of Something Borrowed

“And you’ll never ask it of me again. No more dinners, surprise family meetings, picnics? This is it?”

Matthew held up his beer bottle. “I swear on this bottle of alcohol I hold in my hands. This is the only time and the last time I ask this of you.”

Grady studied him for a long moment, desperately wanting to say no but knowing he could never say no to the big brother who had reentered Grady’s life and brought him a family again. “Fine, I’ll talk to her. Ten minutes. But I’m not promising anything. Nothing.”

A relieved grin broke out on Matthew’s face. “Thank you. Now, let’s head to the back for dinner and another game.”

Grady scrambled to his feet with a groan. “Why do we have to play these stupid games? Can’t we just drink like regular adults until we fall down drunk?”

Matthew clapped him on the back. “Just think, it might get you laid tonight.”

From his lips to God’s ears. Not that Grady was a praying man or that Brigid ever would sleep with him.

* * *

Dinner was casual, consisting of homemade pizza, beer, and wine. The spicy food irritated Brigid’s stomach, but she was so hungry, she didn’t care. She had barely touched her burger at lunch, thoughts of work and Grady twisting up inside of her.

And wasn’t that a surprise to a woman who spent most of her waking hours focused on the office.

Now she sat around the bonfire waiting for the next fun activity, wondering if she could have her brows waxed or something else equally painful. It had to be more fun than this. Judging by the tense exchanges by the other couples, they weren’t enjoying the matchmaking any more than she was.

Caroline stood. “Okay, next challenge, and last one. An oldie but goodie. Truth or dare.”

Delaney popped up faster than Brigid would have expected. “Hell no.”

Ethan reclined on the stone wall against the house and smirked at her. “Something to hide, Laney?”

Delaney whirled and glared at him. “We all have stuff to hide. I’m not playing a stupid game of truth or dare where I’m the target. Absolutely not.”

Anna stood, a smug smile on her face. “So, you forfeit the challenge and give up your chance to win? The lamp will look great in your apartment.”

Brigid smothered a grin. No one wanted that damn lamp, and it was clear it was going somewhere between Delaney and Anna. She and Caroline were safe, not that anyone would dump it on Caroline. Brigid might as well not even be there for all the attention anyone paid her. And she was grateful. She had no interest in getting in between a cat fight. She had enough arguments in her day job.

Delaney narrowed her gaze at Anna, who smiled innocently back. “What are the rules?” She spoke through gritted teeth.

Caroline nodded. “Similar rules as before. We tally points by team. You accept and complete the truth or dare and you get a point. You fail, you lose a point. Final tally by team, couples. Whoever has the most points, wins the money and designates who gets the lamp.”

Brigid thought through the guidelines, looking for any loopholes. “So, nothing life threatening or insulting, right?”

Caroline nodded. “Correct. Nothing too outrageous. Matthew and I will act as judges.”

Immediately, the entire group protested.

Delaney spoke for everyone. “No, you paid in. You have to participate.”

Matthew stood. “We never even finished the scavenger hunt. There’s no way to win.”

Brigid shrugged. “So what? Grady and I have no shot either, but I’m not complaining.”

Matthew shot her a sour look but settled on a chair, arms folded in front of him. “Fine.”

One by one, everyone agreed and paired up. The game started innocently enough. Simple questions. Nothing to rock the boat until the final round. The sun had set long ago, and the moon was high in the sky and the night had grown chilly. Brigid wrapped a blanket around her and sipped the wine, feeling more than a little buzzed and reckless, but nervous at the same time.

Midnight. The witching hour. Nothing good ever happened after midnight.

“Okay, it’s getting late and we’re all tired. This is the final round. Let’s roll to see who goes first.”

And, as usual, it was Brigid’s dumb luck. Feeling confident and not having anything to hide and not liking risks, she took the truth option and waited to see who was on deck to ask the question.

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